Can sex hormone dab revive libido in post-menopausal women?

Washington, Jan 21 (IANS) Could a dab of testosterone gell revive flagging libidos in post-menopausal women? Researchers are testing LibiGel, dubbed the ‘pink Viagra’ on 3,500 women at 50 US locations, under phase III of the clinical trials, a report in Albuquerque Journal quoting Frederick Snoy, a lead investigator at one of the sites, said.

In another study, researchers are enlisting women between the ages of 30 and 65, complaining of lower libido post-surgical menopause (hysterectomy and removal of the ovaries), and recipients of estrogen replacement therapy.

The American Medical Association estimates that 43 percent of women in the US complain of low libido or lack of arousal, pain or discomfort during sex and inability to orgasm.

Pharmaceutical companies have stepped up efforts to find hormone treatments for women. Earlier LibiGel studies and research on testosterone patch called Intrinsa showed increased sexual desire in women.

Earlier, a report in The New England Journal of Medicine said a 300 microgram patch of of testosterone had “modest. . .improvement in sexual function in studies of 814 postmenopausal women not taking estrogen.”